Flag-cane.



Patented Apr. &, l902 J. W.- FREEBORN.

F L G C A N E (Application filed Feb. 9, who.;

(N0 Model.)

A and at intervals apart thereon are disposed a.

Enron.

PATENT JOHN W. FREEBORN, OF ELRENO, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

FLAG-CANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 696,957, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed February 9, 1900. Serial No. 4.666. (No model.)

To all whom i1) may con/www Be it known that I, JOHN W. FEEEBORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elreno, in the county of Canadian and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Combined Cane and Flagstaff, of which the following is a specilication. Y

This invention relates to a combined cane and fiagstaff; and the object in view is to provide a cane having a longitudinal recess, bore, or chamber having therein a staff of particular form with a flag or the like attached thereto and connected to an expelling-spring in such a manner that when the cap or closing device is removed the staff after it is released will be automatically thrown out from the cane and permit the iiag or like device carried by the staff to be unfurled for convenience of participants in processions, campaign or patriotic parades, and thereby provide means for concealing the staff and flag when not in use, to avoid display and notice, and permit the use of the cane alone as such.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined cane and iiagstaff embodying the features of the invention and showing the staff expelled. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the improved device, showing the iagsta inclosed and secured within the cane.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The numeral l designates a cane having a bore or chamber 2 extending completely therethrough in a longitudinal direction, and at the head endl 3 of the cane the bore or chamber is closed by a plug 4. The use of the plug 4 permits the convenient insertion or withdrawal of the parts relating to the iiagstaff or the flagstaff itself. The flagstai 5 has the major portion thereof of less diametrical extent than the bore or chamber 2,

bracing sleeve or collar 6 and a shoulder 7, the said shoulder being in such position as to be easily engaged by a spring-actuated catch 8, mounted in an opening 9 in the body of the cane and having an outer button or head 10 for releasing the inner end thereof from the said shoulder to permit the iiagstaif to be automatically .expelled by a spring 11, attached to the shoulder and surrounding a part of the said staff and braced at its opposite extremity against the plug 4. When the flagstaff is drawn inwardly or forced into the cane, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring 11 is compressed, aud the catch 8 restrains said stai from being forced outwardly when not desired and 4at a time when the cane is used alone after the manner of an ordinary walking-stick. The shoulder 7 is located on the staff in such a manner that when the catch 8 is in engagement therewith the said staff will be completely'indrawn into the cane, and when in this position the foot end ofthe canev is closed by a cap-ferrule 12, having therein a seat plug or block 13, to which the extremity of the staff is secured, and next the said seat plug or block is a metallic or other wear tip 14. Adjacent the cap-ferrule 12 a flag 15 or the like is secured to the sta, and the cap-ferrule moving outward with the staff forms a neat attachment, as clearly shown by Fig. l. When the staff 5 is pressed into the cane 1, it will be held in'rolled condition, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus prepared or arranged before starting the inward movement of the said stati". When the rolled iiag is located within the cane, it will tend to hold the staff in place and prevent rattling or noise of the same when the cane is used alone, and this disadvantage is further overcome by the sleeve or collar 6. The said sleeve or collar 6 also performs another very important function when the staff is expelled by bracing against the reduced tubular extremity of the cane, as clearly shown by the broken-away portion of said extremity in Fig. 1, and thereby the staff will be prevented from working loose or moving from one side to the other and overcome the strain of the wind and avoid breakage or fracture of the staif. The said sleeve or collar also acts to center the staff in its movements into and outward from the cane, and wear directly on the stad is thus materially reduced.

The cap l2 will always be held snugly in engagement with the reduced end of the cane by reason of the catch 8 engaging the shoulder 7 when the staff is withdrawn into the IOS) ' the cap detachable from the staff end, the

latter being an obvious equivalent structure.

The flag 15 may be embellished with suitable inscriptions, if desired, or particular forms and vdesigns of pennants or flags other than that shown may be substituted therefor, and thus adapt the device for use in patriotic or campaign parades, or at times the device may be utilized as a toy for children.

In the form of the device shown it is only necessary to press inwardly on the button or head 10 to release the catch 8 from the shoulder 7 to'arrange the parts as illust-rated in Fig. 1, and `in a parade or procession a very desirable eiect can be produced, as Well as a unique maneuver, by quickly converting the device from use as a cane to a iiagstaf, as will be appreciated.

To suit dilicerent purposes,y changes in the form, size, and proportions, as Well as the minor details, may be resorted to Without in the least departing from the principle or sacriiicing any oi"v the advantages of. the inven- Ation.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is- A cane having a bore extending from a point near its handle portion throughout the remainder of .its length, a staff. of less diameter than the bore, and normally housed therein, two spaced collars or shoulders carried by the stad and snugly itting the bore, the outer bore, whereby breakage of the staff and splitting of the cane is prevented, a spring-pressed trigger projecting Within the bore and engaging the inner collar to hold the staff in retracted position, a spring interposed between the latter collar and the closed terminal of the bore, and a display device carried by the outer portion of the staff, substantially as and for the purpose specific In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN W. FREEBORN. Witnesses:

CHARLES D. LONG, MYRTLE PoTTs. 

